We offer a range of fee free courses, and you may also be eligible for the fee-free study offered by the Government.
On this page:
Government fees free study
The Government’s fees free study is for:
- Level 3 and above programmes
- Up to $12,000 study fees
- There is no equivalent full-time student (EFTS) or credit cap in your first calendar year of study.
After the first year, eligible learners are entitled to the remainder of $12,000 (including GST) or 120 credits of eligible Fees Free study – whichever cap the learner hits first. A learner’s entitlement will stop when they reach either $12,000 (including GST) or 120 credits.
Some information about eligibility, continuing study and fee payments is included below. For more detailed information visit the Government’s Fees Free website.
Eligibility
To be eligible for fees free study you must be a New Zealand citizen.
There are no age requirements or age restrictions for the government fees free study.
Who is not eligible
You are not eligible if you:
- Are enrolled at a secondary school at the start of the course or programme.
- Have previously undertaken more than half a year of equivalent full-time tertiary education 0.5 EFTS (or 60 credits) at level 3 or above on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework. This does not include tertiary education completed while enrolled at a secondary school.
Continuing previous study
If you have already done some study and are eligible for fees free study you can continue your study:
- Subject to the TEC cap for time and maximum allowance.
- You would not have to enrol in a new qualification for this.
Applying for fees free study
To apply for the Government’s fees free study with Open Polytechnic:
- Choose the programme you wish to apply to study with Open Polytechnic and apply online.
- The online application form will ask how you would like to pay for your study. Choose the ‘Government Fees-Free’ option.
- We will then check to make sure you are eligible and get back to you.
Fees already paid
If you find you are eligible for fees-free study in 2018, but have already paid your course fees don’t worry. We will review all study applications and will refund eligible students.
Fees paid by student loan
If you are eligible for fees free, but have already taken out a student loan StudyLink advises that you:
- Log in to your MyStudyLink account
- Change the ‘Pay fees’ field in your loan application to ‘No’.
Don’t cancel your student loan application completely if you will still need living and course-related costs.
If you were only taking out a loan to pay your fees, and they are less than or equal to $12,000, you can choose to cancel your loan application.
To cancel your application or get further information contact StudyLink:
- 0800 88 99 00
- Studylink website
Withdrawing from your course if you don’t qualify for fees free
If you are not eligible for fees free study and would like to withdraw your application to enrol in a course please email us. quotes@openpolytechnic.ac.nz
Include your name, student number and course(s) you have applied for in the email.
If you are not eligible and you have been enrolled in the course, you can use the request to withdraw form on our website.
Open Polytechnic fees free programmes
We offer a range of fees free programmes to make study in these areas as accessible as possible to those who need it. These programmes are free for all domestic learners.
The fee free offer will be for a limited time. We will publish the end date of the offer two weeks before the offer ends in the qualification/programme page on our website.
What the fee free offer covers
This fee free offer only applies to the programme’s enrolment fee.
It does not include provision of textbooks or any other additional fees incurred by a student. These will remain the responsibility of the student.
Applying to enrol
When you enrol in the programme or a course you need to fill in the enrolment form. Payment will not be required to complete your enrolment application (subject to terms and conditions).
List of Open Polytechnic Fees Free programmes:
Please note these can be subject to change.
Te Reo
Level 1
Te Pōkaitahi Reo (Reo Rua) (Te Kaupae 1) [New Zealand Certificate in Te Reo (Bilingual) (Level 1)]
Design
Level 4
New Zealand Certificate in Interior Décor (Level 4)
Education
Level 4
New Zealand Certificate in Education Support (Level 4)
New Zealand Certificate in Assessment Practice
New Zealand Certificate in Early Childhood Education and Care (Level 4)
Level 5
New Zealand Certificate in Adult and Tertiary Teaching
New Zealand Certificate in Adult Literacy and Numeracy Education (Vocational/Workplace)
Foundation and Bridging
Level 2
New Zealand Certificate in Foundation Skills (Level 2)
New Zealand Certificate in Computing (Foundation User) (Level 2)
Level 3
Certificate of Achievement in Fundamentals of Mathematics
Health, Wellbeing and Community Services
Level 3
New Zealand Certificate in Sterilising Technology (Level 3)
New Zealand Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (Level 3) (Health Assistance)
New Zealand Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (Level 3) (Support Work)
Level 4
New Zealand Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (Advanced Care and Support) (Level 4)
Horticulture
Level 2
New Zealand Certificate in Floristry (Level 2)
Level 3
New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture (General) (Level 3)
New Zealand Certificate in Organic Primary Production (Level 3)
Business
Level 3
New Zealand Certificate in Business Administration and Technology (level 3)
New Zealand Certificate in Business (Introduction to Small Business) (Level 3)
Level 4
New Zealand Certificate in Business (First Line Management) (Level 4)
New Zealand Certificate in Business (Small Business) (Level 4)
Find out more
For more information about our fee free courses, get in touch:
Freephone 0508 650 200